Water-recycling technologies have been developed to reduce water consumption and surface runoff in horticultural operations. However, WRT may increase risk of disease from water-borne pathogens such as Pythium and Phytophthora. More information is needed about producers' management practices and attitudes regarding irrigation runoff containment and recycling. A mail survey was administered in February 2013 to horticultural nursery growers in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Collected were respondents' demographic characteristics plus irrigation and disease management practices. The survey incorporated a choice experiment quantifying willingness to adopt water recycling given hypothetical disease outbreak, water shortage probabilities, and percentage cost increases via a conditional logit model. Two hundred and sixty respondents provide valuable insight into horticultural production in the Mid-Atlantic region. We were unable to calculate the implicit price of water or disease for adoption because the sample of 91 respondents for the choice experiment yielded a flat distribution of operations ranging in $100 to $7 million in nursery cost. However, findings did support the hypothesis that producers will be more likely to adopt selected WRT when cost decreases, probability of disease decreases. Only 33% chose to adopt. Cost is the biggest factor as the majority of producers are not equipped to handle water recycling or capture and would go out of business due to the expense. Disease is also significant factor inhibiting growers from adopting. Until mandatory environmental regulations in place to force producers to contain runoff, or until incentivized cost sharing programs are implemented, wide spread adoption of water recycling technologies is unlikely to occur. / Master of Science

<p>  </p> <p><em>Santalum</em> spp., known globally as sandalwood, are highly sought after for their aromatic oil-rich heartwood and have been exploited throughout their range. Six of the 19 <em>Santalum</em> species are endemic to the main Hawaiian Islands, where they are known locally as ʻiliahi. Excessive harvesting led to the extirpation of Hawaiian sandalwood from 90% of its historic range by 1840. There is limited peer-reviewed literature concerning the propagation of Hawaiian sandalwood, and methods developed for other non-Hawaiian species cannot be directly adopted due to differences in sandalwood species physiology, available host species, and growing environment. This, combined with increased interest in growing Hawaiian sandalwood, prompts the need for the development of propagation protocols based on empirical research. The primary knowledge gaps in propagation include best practices for producing high-quality seedlings in the nursery (e.g., fertilizers and hosts) and silvicultural practices for maximizing outplanting survival and growth. The Hawaii Island endemic <em>Santalum paniculatum</em> has the largest remnant population and distribution and high commercial value, making it an ideal species to focus our study on. We conducted two experiments to evaluate the response of <em>S. paniculatum</em> seedlings to propagation methods employed with Australian and Indian sandalwood, although with species of hosts native to Hawaii. The first experiment was a nursery growth trial that evaluated the quality of <em>S. paniculatum </em>seedlings in response to nutrient availability (controlled-release fertilization, control), chelated iron fertilizer (applied, control), and species of pot host (<em>Acacia koa</em>, <em>Dodonaea viscosa</em>, control). The quality of seedlings was determined by measurements of height, root collar diameter, dry mass, root shoot ratio, chlorophyll index, and nutrient status (N & Fe concentration). Nutrient availability had the greatest impact on seedling quality and increased height, root collar diameter, dry mass, chlorophyll index, and nutrient status. Chelated iron fertilizer effectively improved seedling quality (height, collar, dry mass, chlorophyll content, and Fe concentration) in a nutrient-limiting environment, although a nutrient-rich environment diminished its effect with sufficient iron levels. The host species treatment had the least influence on seedling quality and only influenced haustoria formation by causing more haustoria in <em>A. koa</em>-paired compared to <em>D. viscosa</em>-paired and control seedlings. Although the pot host had the lowest effect on seedling quality during nursery propagation, it provided benefits in the field planting phase of the project.</p> <p>The second experiment of the project assessed the survival and performance of field-planted <em>S. paniculatum</em> in response to (1) nursery fertilization, (2) an <em>A. koa</em> pot host, and (3) an <em>A. koa </em>field host. Nursery fertilization had the greatest effect on performance and enhanced survival, height, height growth, collar, collar growth. The survival rate of unfertilized seedlings was 43.3% (± 5.9) compared to 86.9% (± 4.2) for fertilized seedlings. The pot host improved height, height growth, collar, collar growth of seedlings, but it did not influence survival. The intermediate field host significantly improved survival from 52.7% (± 7.8) to 78.0% (± 5.6) and only affected the height measurements and not the collar. There was a significant interaction between the field host and nursery fertilizer treatment associated with the fertilized seedlings planted with field hosts having lower water potential than the fertilized seedling planted without a field host. Our results demonstrated that supplemental nursery nutrition, pot hosts, and intermediate <em>A. koa </em>field hosts benefited <em>S. paniculatum</em> regeneration establishment in different ways. Furthermore, the effect of the hosting treatments may become more pronounced in the field over time as more haustoria connections are formed. This research project provides essential baseline information that helps to enhance the current methodology and inform future decision-making concerning the propagation of <em>S. paniculatum </em>and other Hawaiian <em>Santalum</em> species. </p>

An elasmobranch survey conducted from 2013-2018 in the waters adjacent to Pinellas County, Florida, was used for a baseline assessment of the local shark population. ArcGIS and Boosted Regression Trees were used to identify hot spots of abundance and links between environmental predictors and distribution, as well as create species distribution models. A diverse assemblage of sharks, dominated by five species: nurse shark, bonnethead, Atlantic sharpnose shark, blacktip shark, and blacknose shark, was identified. A large proportion of captures (~42%) were immature sharks. Results indicate areas characterized by seagrass and “No Internal Combustion Engine” zones correlate with greater diversity and abundance, particularly for immature sharks. BRT results underscored the importance of seagrass bottoms, as well as warm (>31℃) and shallow (< 6m) waters as essential habitat. By identifying spatially explicit areas and environmental conditions suited for shark abundance, this study provides practical resources for managing and protecting Florida’s sharks.

No description available.

No description available.

Årligen producerar svenska skogsplantskolor runt 400 miljoner plantor till skogsbruket.Lungmossan är ett av de stora ogräsen för de skogliga plantskolorna. Lungmossan breder utsig på plantbäddarna och omöjliggör hanteringen av plantorna. Idag finns det inget tillåtetbekämpningsmedel för att bekämpa lungmossa på marknaden. Behandling av bikarbonat i fastform har visat goda resultat men är svåra att genomföra i stor skala. I detta arbete harmöjligheten att bekämpa lungmossa med vattenlöslig bikarbonatbehandling studerats.Ett plantskoleförsök genomfördes i ett av Skogforsks växthus i Sävar. Försöket bestod av tvåförstudier och sedan ett huvudförsök med 9 olika försöksuppställningar. Totalt ingick 49Starpot 50 kassetter med 24–48 granplantor i varje. Resultatet visade att det går att behandlalungmossa med bikarbonat utblandat med vatten kortsiktigt, men att de skadorna som uppstårunder behandling på granplantorna gör metoden irrelevant. I stället bör vidare studier påbikarbonat i fast form undersökas.

M.S.

Urban and agricultural runoff is the principal contributor to non-point source (NPS) pollution and subsequent impairments of streams, rivers, lakes, and estuaries. Urban and agricultural runoff is a major source of sediment, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) loading to receiving waters. Coastal waters in the southeastern U.S. are vulnerable to human impacts due to the proximity to urban an agricultural land uses, and hydrologic connection of the Coastal Plain to receiving waters. To mitigate the impacts of urban and agricultural runoff, a variety of stormwater control measures (SCMs) are implemented. Despite the importance of the Coastal Plain on water quality and quantity, few studies are available that focus on prediction of nutrient and sediment runoff loads from Coastal Plain watersheds. The overall goals of my dissertation are to assess the effect of urban and agricultural watershed on coastal waters through monitoring and modeling, and to characterize treatment performance of SCMs. These goals are addressed in four independent studies. First, we developed the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) and the Hydrologic Simulation Program-Fortran (HSPF) models for an urbanized watershed to compared the ability of these two models at simulating streamflow, peak flow, and baseflow. Three separate monitoring and modeling programs were conducted on: 1) six urban land uses (i.e. commercial, industrial, low density residential, high density residential, transportation, and open space); 2) container nursey; and 3) a Coastal Plain retention pond. This study provides methods for estimating watershed pollutant loads. This is a key missing link in implementing watershed improvement strategies and selecting the most appropriate urban BMPs at the local scale. Results of these projects will help urban planners, urban decision makers and ecological experts for long-term sustainable management of urbanized and agricultural watersheds. / Doctor of Philosophy / Urban and agricultural runoff is a major source of sediment, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) loading to receiving waters. When in excess, these pollutants degrade water quality and threaten aquatic ecosystems. Coastal waters in the southeastern U.S. are vulnerable to human impacts due to the proximity to urban an agricultural landuse. To mitigate the impacts of urban and agricultural runoff, a variety of stormwater control measures (SCMs) are implemented. The overall goals of my dissertation are to assess the effect of urban and agricultural watershed on coastal waters through monitoring and modeling, and to characterize treatment performance of SCMs. These goals are addressed in four independent studies. First, we developed two watershed models the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) and the Hydrologic Simulation Program-Fortran (HSPF) to simulate streamflow, peak flow, and baseflow within an urbanized watershed. Three separate monitoring programs were conducted on: (1) urban land uses (i.e. commercial, industrial, low density residential, high density residential, transportation, and open space); (2) container nursey; and (3) a Coastal Plain retention pond. These studies provided methods for estimating watershed pollutant loads. Results of these projects will help urban planners and ecological experts for long-term sustainable management of urbanized and agricultural watersheds.

The objective of this work was to determine if summer dormancy of boxwood could be removed either through nutritional or hormonal means. Buxus sempervirens L. "Suffruticosa", B. sempervirens "Vardar Valley", and B sinica var. insularis (Nakai) "Justin Brouwers" were used for these studies. In the nutrition study, experiments were conducted to examine the effects of various levels of Osmocote 15-9-12 and liquid 10-4-6 on growth of boxwood. Optimal shoot dry weight was achieved at applications of 12 to 16 g Osmocote and 100 – 150 ppm N liquid fertilizer. Leachate EC corresponding to optimal shoot dry weight ranged from 0.5 to 0.7 dS/m for Osmocote and from 0.7 to 1.5 dS/m for liquid fertilizer. While the fertilizer requirements for boxwood optimal dry weight accumulation were determined, additional flushes of growth subsequent to the initial spring flush did not occur for "Vardar Valley" and English boxwood. In the phytohormone study, experiments were conducted that examined the effects of pruning, Promalin (GA4+7 and BA), and defoliation on the growth of three boxwood species. While Promalin applied alone or in conjunction with pruning shows promise of increasing new shoot growth, its response was not consistent from experiment to experiment. In fact, when it was applied in conjunction with defoliation, it dramatically decreased number of new shoots and actually resulted in some shoot mortality. Pruning was also erratic in its promotion of new shoots. Defoliation increased new shoot number dramatically and shows the most promise in overcoming summer dormancy. / Master of Science

The present study was made in an attempt to determine what contributions the mid-morning feeding and the noon meal served children in a nursery school make toward the day's total intake of vitamin C and vitamin A.